What happened with Turkey? Over the last few years Turkey’s policy has changed. Today’s government has its focus on Islam and as a result, Turkey has turned away from the West. Turkey today is trying to lead the Islamic world and rebuild the Ottoman Empire. It has now become an enemy of Israel. It embraces the leaders of Iran and Hamas, all of whom called for Israel’s destruction.

Turkey has a long history. In a short version; the Persian Empire occupied the area in the 6th century B.C., giving way to the Roman Empire, then later the Byzantine Empire. In the early 13th century, the Ottoman Turks first appeared, and gradually spread through the Near East and Balkans, capturing Constantinople in 1453 and storming the gates of Vienna two centuries later. At its height, the Ottoman Empire stretched from the Persian Gulf to western Algeria. Lasting for 600 years, the Ottoman Empire was not only one of the most powerful empires in the history of the Mediterranean region, but it generated a great cultural outpouring of Islamic art, architecture, and literature.

After the reign of Sultan Süleyman I the Magnificent (1494–1566), the Ottoman Empire began to decline politically, administratively, and economically.

Over the last few years, diplomatic dialogue between Turkey and Israel has become strained, particularly following the 2008-2009 Israel-Gaza Conflict. And last week Turkey provoked Israel into action with its so-called “Peace Flotilla”, knowing full well that the world would blame Israel for any casualties.

The Rabbinical Council of Judea and Samaria issued a statement Thursday in which it said that the incident in which Israel intercepted a flotilla seemed like the Biblical description of the beginning of the Gog and Magog process.

What does the Bible say about Gog and Magog? The book of Ezekiel describes, in chapters 38 and 39, a vision of a war where the world is united against Israel that will precede the final redemption of Israel and the world.

The study of Gog and Magog has long been a challenge to Bible scholars and historians alike. Magog is described in Genesis 10:2 and 1 Chronicles 1:5 as a grandson of Noah.

Prophet Ezekiel claims Magog’s descendants are from the far north, and will someday attack Israel. Throughout history we find Gog and Magog identified with many place names, as well as numerous tribes and people groups; some firmly leaving their mark on history, including many present-day cultures. Perhaps the most known of Magog’s descendants (sometimes referred to as Magogians) are the Scythians. Scythian culture extended more than 2,000 miles east from the Ukraine to Mongolia. These peoples would later form tribes and ethnic groups we would come to know as familiar names in history: Huns, Turks, Tartars, Mongols and others.

There is today a growing interest in the Ezekiel prophecies and whether they could play out in our lifetime.

We’ve never seen a convergence of geopolitical and spiritual events so consistent with Ezekiel 38-39 in history like we are seeing today. I believe the rabbis are right – we are living in the days of Ezekiel’s prophecies – and it is possible that we could see these events unfold soon.

Israeli naval forces intercepted the “Free Gaza” flotilla around 2:00 AM on Monday morning and, upon boarding the flagship of the six vessel convoy, discovered some passengers were “anything but peace activists,” as the IDF personnel were met by a “well-planned lynch,” leaving at least 10 people dead and dozens more injured in the ensuing melee.

Although some Arabic media reports claim the Israeli troops opened fire upon boarding, the IDF insists that its troops were first attacked by a mob of activists on board the Mavi Marmara armed with knives, bats, and metal pipes, and that shots were also fired at the IDF forces. An initial IDF statement added that activists also began shooting with a gun wrested from an IDF soldier.

“The demonstrators had clearly prepared their weapons in advance for this specific purpose,” said the IDF Spokesman. “As a result of this life-threatening and violent activity, naval forces employed riot dispersal means, including live fire.”

“It was like a well-planned lynch,” one IDF officer said. “These people were anything but peace activists.”

According to early reports, at least ten pro-Palestinian activists were killed and dozens more were wounded in the resulting skirmish, while six naval personnel were injured, one suffering a critical head wound. All of the injured, Israelis and foreigners, were being evacuated by helicopter to hospitals in Israel. Foreign reports claim that the number of dead may be up to 19.

Al Jazeera on Monday broadcast footage from the Mavi Marmara showing Israeli Navy commandos rappelling down ropes from a hovering helicopter and boarding the ship.

After the skirmish, all passengers were ordered inside the cabins, and the IDF indicated the incident is not considered over as some activists may still be armed. The IDF is towing the ships to the port of Ashdod, where the cargo will be inspected and transferred to the Gaza Strip via land crossings, despite this morning’s violence. In the coming hours, Israeli authorities will identify the people on board the ships and most will be given the option of a free flight home or being arrested. Israel is braced for rioting by Israeli Arabs today as the leader of the radical Islamic Movement in Israel was wounded in the clash and is undergoing an urgent operation.

Activists aboard the ships had repeatedly said beforehand that they would not respond with violence to the navy’s interception of their flotilla.

Al-Jazeera reported Turkish leaders called an emergency meeting to discuss responses to the attack at sea. The Israeli ambassador in Turkey was called in to offer explanations.

Hamas Prime Minister Haniyeh also came on Al-Jazeera to condemn the “brutal attack” and called on the UN to intervene on the activists’ behalf.

“The interception of the flotilla followed numerous warnings given to the organizers of the flotilla before leaving their ports as well as while sailing towards the Gaza Strip,” noted the IDF. “In these warnings, it was made clear to the organizers that they could dock in the Ashdod sea port and unload the equipment they are carrying in order to deliver it to the Gaza Strip in an orderly manner, following the appropriate security checks. Upon expressing their unwillingness to cooperate and arrive at the port, it was decided to board the ships and lead them to Ashdod.”